Back-To-College ID Theft Tips

College students aren't the only ones returning to school this year.

College students aren’t the only ones returning to school this year. Chances are identity thieves will be right there with them – but students can take steps to protect themselves.

College security expert Robert Siciliano is teaming up with with uni-ball® pens and the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) to provide helpful tips on student safety and identity theft prevention while away at college.

Talk to your student about the importance of reconciling his or her bank statement each month. This is one of the quickest ways to spot existing account fraud and stop identity thieves by flagging any activity other than your own.

Contact the university and ask them not to use your student’s social security number for identification purposes or to post grades. With identity theft being so prevalent these days, many universities are switching to systems that generate completely random identification numbers for student ID cards, but you can never be too sure.

Invest in a lockbox or safe to securely store documents and valuables and remind your student to never leave important documents or personal papers lying out in the open where they can be seen or stolen.

Use a uni-ball pen to write rent checks and sign all important documents

Use a uni-ball pen to write rent checks and sign all important documents. These gel pens are less than $2 and contain Uni “Super Ink,” which is specially formulated to reduce document fraud and check washing, a traditional form of identity theft.

Be careful to shield your PIN number from those behind you when using ATM machines, and be on the lookout for “skimmers,” or fake card readers attached to the machine that retain cardholder account information for thieves.

Always lock car doors and entrances to your apartment, dorm room or house – especially first and second floor windows. If biking, secure your bike on campus and off with a sturdy lock.

Buy a diamond-cut document shredder to destroy credit card solicitations and other sensitive documents.

Be aware of what you post on the Internet

, especially online social networks like Facebook and MySpace. You can never be sure of who is viewing your personal information or pictures.

Make sure that your computer is protected by a firewall and you are using secure software.

Don’t share online passwords with anyone, even your friends or roommates. Theft can occur by people you already know.

Identity theft does not discriminate, and college students are no exception. Are you security-savvy, or crime’s next victim?
Take the uni-ball Student Risk Index quiz.